Timeline of Kinshasa

19th century

14th -18th Century Kongo Kingdom reigned victorious throughout the land

1881 - Léopoldville founded as a trading post by Henry Morton Stanley of the UK.

1885 - Town becomes part of Congo Free State.

1898 - Matadi–Kinshasa Railway built.

20th century

1908 - Town becomes part of Belgian Congo.

1909 - Banque du Congo Belge headquartered in Léopoldville (approximate date).

1914 - Grand Hotel ABC built.

1917 - Collège Saint-Joseph founded.

1926 - Capital of Belgian Congo relocated to Leopoldville from Boma.

1928 - Elima newspaper begins publication.

1935 - Association Sportive Vita Club formed.

1936 - Daring Club Motema Pembe (football club) formed.

1937

Stade Reine Astrid (stadium) opens.

Radio Leo begins broadcasting.

Hotel Memling built.

1938 - Amicale Sportive Dragons football club formed.

1939 - Albert I of Belgium monument inaugurated on Place de la Gare.

1940 - Radio Congo Belge begins broadcasting.

1940s - Ngoma recording studio in business.

1943 - École Saint-Luc à Gombe Matadi founded.

1952 - Stade Roi Baudouin (stadium) inaugurated.

1953

N'djili Airport inaugurated.

African Jazz (musical group) formed.

1954 - University of Lovanium established.

1955 - Boulevard Albert I constructed.

1956

OK Jazz musical group formed.

Colonial Governor-General residence built.

1957 - Académie des Beaux-Arts (school) active.

1958

Trico Center for nuclear studies established.

Plantations Lever au Congo (part of Unilever) headquartered in city.

1959

Anti-colonial riots led by the ABAKO political party.

L'independance newspaper begins publication.

1960

City becomes capital of independent Republic of the Congo.

Joseph Kulumba becomes bourgmestre, succeeded by Daniel Kanza.

1961 - American School founded.

1962 - National School of Law and Administration founded.

1963

Boulevard Albert I renamed "Boulevard du 30 Juin".

Zoao Boniface becomes bourgmestre.

1964

City becomes capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hotel Memling built.

Banque du Congo headquartered in city.

1966 - Léopoldville renamed "Kinshasa."

1967

September: Organisation of African Unity summit held.

National Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Art established.

1969

Kinshasa International Fair begins.

Zaiko Langa Langa musical group formed.

1971

City becomes capital of Republic of Zaire.

Office National des Transports headquartered in city.

Inter Continental hotel in business.

1972 - École d'Informatique d'Électronique founded.

1974

September: Zaire 74 music festival held.

October 30: The Rumble in the Jungle boxing match held.

1975 - Sozacom building constructed.

1976 - Voix du Zaire broadcasting complex and BCZ building constructed.

1977 - Zekete-zekete musical style developed.

1979 - Palais du Peuple built.

1981 - University of Kinshasa established.

1982 - Le Potentiel newspaper begins publication.

1984 - Population: 2,664,309.

1988 - Madiaba musical style developed.

1989

Athletic Club Sodigraf formed.

La Référence Plus newspaper begins publication.

1990 - Population: 3,564,000 (urban agglomeration).

1991

Fundu Kota becomes governor.

Anti-Mobutu demonstrations.

1992 - Kibabu Madiata Nzau becomes governor, succeeded by Bernardin Mungul Diaka.

1994

Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste founded.

Kamanyola Stadium opens.

1996

Mujinga Swana becomes governor, succeeded by Nkoy Mafuta.

L'Avenir (Newspaper) begins publication.

January 8: Airplane crash.

1997

Théophile Mbemba Fundu becomes governor.

April: General Gabriel Amela Lokima Bahati becomes governor.

May: City taken by anti-Mobutu forces led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila.

Central Bank of the Congo headquartered in city.

21st century

2000 - Population: 5,611,000 (urban agglomeration).

2001

Christophe Muzungu becomes governor, succeeded by Loka Ne Kongo.

January: President Laurent-Désiré Kabila assassinated.

2002

David Nku Imbié becomes governor.

Lola ya Bonobo animal sanctuary located near city.

2004

March: Coup attempt.

May: Jean Kimbunda becomes governor.

2005

Kimbembe Mazunga becomes governor.

Population: 7,106,000 (urban agglomeration).

2006

Post-election unrest.

Baudoin Liwanga becomes governor.

2007

March: Conflict between Bemba supporters and government forces.

March 16: André Kimbuta becomes governor.

City website online (approximate date).

2011 - February 27: Coup attempt.

2012

October: Organisation internationale de la Francophonie summit held.

Population: 9,046,000.

2014

Hôpital du Cinquantenaire (hospital) opens.

It's discovered that the origin of the HIV virus traces back to Léopoldville in the 1920s.

2015 - January: 2015 Congolese protests.